Legal FAQs

NAR Trademark and Brand Rules, Online Toolkit https://www.nar.realtor/logos-and-trademark-rules/logo-and-trademark-videos/association-trademark-logo-toolkit?cid=em_mark_01&narmail=Trademark%20Awareness%20-%20Email%20%231&date=02-04-2026&user=56072&itid=16750423 NAR recently hired a trademark and brand enforcement attorney, Leslie Nettleford-Freeman, who in her NAR bio, expresses her skills demonstrated by enforcing the AARP brand and trademark that will carry over into NAR enforcing the NAR brand and trademark. https://www.nar.realtor/leslie-nettleford-freeman Posted by: Byron King on 2/4/26 (This… Continue Reading NAR: Trademark Rules and Enforcement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkn0zxQV3TE Posted by: Byron King on 2/4/26 (This information is only accurate as of 2/4/26. You must contact SCR for updates and changes to this information after 2/4/26, as laws and regulations may change over time. SCR 803-772-5206 or email info at screaltors.org or email byron at screaltors.org) This information is not legal advice. This… Continue Reading WRA: FinCEN, March 1, 2026

NAR has received questions from REALTOR members who are landlords participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program regarding HUD's recent announcement about immigration status verification. Our Advocacy team has advised that private landlords who accept HCVs are not subject to this directive and are not responsible for verifying immigration status. Please check out this… Continue Reading NAR on HUD’s HCV Program, No Duty for Private Landlords

https://www.nar.realtor/videos/nars-core-trademark-rules Posted by: Byron King on 1/22/26 (This information is only accurate as of 1/22/26. You must contact SCR for updates and changes to this information after 1/22/26, as laws and regulations may change over time. SCR 803-772-5206 or email info at screaltors.org or email byron at screaltors.org) This information is not legal advice. This… Continue Reading NAR Legal Trademark and Membership Marks (REALTOR)

https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/2025-12/2026-COE-Standards-of-Practice-2026-01-01.pdf Posted by: Byron King on 1/20/26 (This information is only accurate as of 1/20/26. You must contact SCR for updates and changes to this information after 1/20/26, as laws and regulations may change over time. SCR 803-772-5206 or email info at screaltors.org or email byron at screaltors.org) This information is not legal advice. This… Continue Reading 2026 NAR Code of Ethics

Only Broker-to-Broker referral compensation is legal under RESPA. RESPA expert shares how to avoid illegal kickbacks The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act is a complex federal law aimed at protecting consumers during the settlement process. If referrals are central to your business, listen up. One lawyer offers tips on complying with this federal law banning… Continue Reading NAR: Tips to Avoid RESPA (illegal kickbacks, referrals)

Licensees and Brokerages may want to remind your 2025 buyers who bought 6% property tax assessment ratio properties (e.g., primary residence is 4% property tax assessment ratio) to properly apply for any ATI 25% proper tax valuation discount at their county goverment (e.g. online, at county government offices, no later than January 30, 2026 or… Continue Reading ATI Deadline January 30th Reminder!

Complaint packages sent: 2024 181 2025 174 Complaint packages received back: 2024. 59 2025. 67 Grievance Committee moved to a hearing: 2024 35 2025 43 Hearings: 2024 22 2025 27 Ranked articles: 2024: 1, 2, 12, 10, 15, 9, 4, 3, 7, 11, 13 2025: 1, 2, 12, 9, 15, 16, 3, 4, 11, 5,… Continue Reading Updated Professional Standards Statistics (#2 is #2)

South Carolina Statewide Cooperative Hearings: 2025: 27 2024: 22 2023: 27 2022: 20 Several Local Associations joined the SC Statewide Professional Standards Cooperative (e.g., CTAR, GGAR, effectively doubling the REALTOR® population in the statewide cooperative to 30,000 REALTORS®). Zoom hearings began circa 2020-2021 due to the pandemic. 2021: 14 2020: 10 Posted by: Byron King… Continue Reading SCR Professional Standards Hearings

Complaint packages sent: 2024 181 2025 174 Complaint packages received back: 2024. 59 2025. 67 Grievance Committee moved to hearing: 2024 35 2025 43 Hearings: 2024 22 2025 27 Ranked articles: 2024: 1, 2, 12, 10, 15, 9, 4, 3, 7, 11, 13 2025: 1, 12, 9, 15, 16, 3, 4, 11, 5, 6, 13… Continue Reading 2024 and 2025 Professional Standards Statistics